Car-seal



A. P. TRAVIS."

GAR SEAL.

(No Model.)

No. 485,070. Patented 001;. 25, 1892.

ill

. the door.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT P. TRAVIS, OF GRUNDY CENTRE, IOlVA.

CAR-SEAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 485,070, dated October 25, 1892.

Application filed June 12, 1891. Serial No. 396,015. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT P. TRAVIS, of Grundy Centre,in the county of Grundy and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inOar-Seals; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in car-seals, the object being to provide a simple device for sealing car-doors; and it consistsin certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a View in elevation of my improved seal, showing aportion ofa freight-ear and door to which the same is applied. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the seal and pin. Fig. 3 is a view on line w w of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a View of one of the seals.

A represents a bracket-iron, the same having several bolt-holes 1 1 to receive bolts or screws, by which to fasten the bracket in place on the car or, if occasion should require it, to This bracket is provided with lugs or cars 2 2, located a suitable distance apart to receive the hasp between them.

B indicates the hasp. This hasp is secured in the usual way' by a staple or other device to the door, (or car-body, as the case may be.) The hasp is provided with a boss4 at or near its free end, and the latter is adapted to fit between and coincide with the lugs or ears 2 2. A hole 6 is formed through these parts for the reception of a pin for holding the parts together.

0 is the pin. This pin is fitted to the hole 6 and provided with an annular groove 7 at a point opposite the boss 4 when inserted within the hole 6, and this groove is adapted to receive a portion of the seal. The boss 4 is provided with slits 8 8 at the lower edge.

D is a seal. This may be of any thin material, such as sheet metal, card -board, or stiff paper. The seal is formed substantially as shown. It consists of a narrow strip of material with a slit 9 cut therein parallel with one edge. This slit extends nearly to one end of the seal, in order that the seal maybe conveniently broken at this point when it is desired to remove it to open the door. The strip is preferably about the same width as the boss, and the portion 12 of the seal is adapted to be inserted in the slits 8 8 edgewise, the main or wide portion 13 being adapted to serve as a label, if desired. The idea is to have the narrow portion 12 spring into the annular groove 7 when the pin is inserted in the hole 6. The pin is provided with a tapering point 14, which when inserted in the hole 6 forces the portion 12 of the seal to one side into the enlargement formed in the bore of the boss. As the pin fits in the hole 6 it is necessary for the corrugation 16, previously formed in the part 12 of the seal, to drop to one side until the groove comes opposite it, after which the corrugated part 16 springs into the groove and locks the pin in place, from which it cannot be removed without first breaking the seal, thus disclosing the fact that the car has been opened.

To get the seal in shape for use before sealing, it may be placed in position in the slits of the hasp, as before, without first insertin the boss between the lugs or ears. The pi may then be forced part way into the boss, but not far enough to allow the portion 12 to spring into the groove, and the seal will thus be bent into shape. After this the parts are placed in position and locked. The hasp is provided with a handle 17 at its free end, by which the hasp is manipulated.

It is evident that slight changes might be resorted to in the form and arrangement of the several parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction herein set forth; but,

Having fully described rnyinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to'secu re by Letters Patent, is-

1.. The combination, with a bracket and a hasp having a boss thereon, of a pin adapted 5 to enter openings in the bracket and boss and a seal adapted to entera recess in the pin and lock the latter in place, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a bracket and a hasp having a boss formed thereon, of a pin specification in the presence of two subscribadapted to. enter openings in the bracket and ing witnesses. boss and a seal adapted to enter a slit in one of said. parts and drop into a, notch in the pin, ALBERT lRAVIS' 5 whereby the latter is lockedin p1ace,substan- Witnesses:

tially as set forth. CHAS. O. JONES,

In testimony whereof I have. signed this 5 JOHN A. BELKNAP. 

